Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 | Arrival in Cusco – City Tour
Upon arrival at Cusco airport, a TreXperience representative will meet you and transfer
you to your centrally located hotel. Check in and relax in the morning (we recommend
booking a morning flight to Cusco).
In the afternoon, begin your Cusco City Tour. Explore the
Plaza de Armas, admire priceless paintings in the Cathedral, see the
famous 12-angled stone, and visit the Koricancha,
the Temple of the Sun. Then drive 10 minutes up the hill to visit:
Sacsayhuaman, Quenqo, Tambomachay,
Pucapucara, and (time permitting) the large white statue of
Christ overlooking the city.
- Duration: Half day (afternoon)
- Meals: Not included
- Entrance tickets: Included
- Accommodation: Munay Wasi Hotel or similar (3★)
Day 2 | Sacred Valley Tour: Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero
After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at 08:00 for a full-day tour of the
Sacred Valley. First stop is Awanacancha, an alpaca
and llama farm where you’ll learn the differences between llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and
guanacos. Continue to the Taray lookout for sweeping views of the
valley, eastern Andes, and Urubamba River.
Visit the Pisaq archaeological site, an impressive Inca settlement
with agricultural terraces, tombs, and houses high on the mountain. Afterward, explore
the colorful Pisaq handicraft market, where artisans sell their own
textiles directly.
Drive about 1 hour to Urubamba for a buffet lunch made from fresh local ingredients.
In the afternoon, discover the fortress of Ollantaytambo, then walk
along its original Inca streets. On the way back to Cusco, visit
Chinchero to explore the Inca site, the colonial church built over
Inca palaces, and a textile center to learn about traditional weaving. Return to your
hotel around 18:00.
- Duration: Full day
- Meals: Buffet lunch in Urubamba
- Entrance tickets: Included
- Accommodation: Munay Wasi Hotel or similar (3★)
Day 3 | Cusco – Humantay Lake – Salkantaypampa (12 km, ~6 h)
Leave your hotel around 04:30 in a private van and drive to
Soraypampa (3,900 m), arriving around 08:30. After breakfast with
mountain views, begin your trek to Machu Picchu.
First, hike about 2 hours uphill to Humantay Lake at
4,200 m, a stunning turquoise glacial lagoon. Arriving early lets you enjoy the
scenery with fewer crowds. After exploring the lake, descend ~2 hours back to
Soraypampa for a delicious lunch prepared by your trekking chef.
In the afternoon, continue along the Salkantay Valley, following meandering streams up
to Salkantaypampa, your first campsite at the base of Salkantay
Mountain (4,000 m). Your tents, warm water to wash, tea time, and dinner will be ready
on arrival.
- Campsite altitude: 4,000 m / 13,123 ft
- Distance: 12 km / 7.4 mi
- Duration: ~6 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, tea, dinner
- Accommodation: Camping under a million stars
- Considered: Moderate
Day 4 | Salkantaypampa – Salkantay Pass – Hayrajpunku – Collpapampa (18 km, ~9 h)
Wake in your tent to a hot drink and spectacular mountain views. After breakfast,
prepare for the most demanding day of the trek. Climb for about 2 hours
to the highest point of the Salkantay trekking route, the
Salkantay Pass at 4,630 m / 15,190 ft.
On the pass, take time to explore, enjoy the views of Salkantay’s snow-capped peak, and
take photos. Then descend for ~2 hours to Hayrajpunku for lunch. In
the afternoon, drop another 3 hours into warmer, greener terrain until
you reach the second campsite near Collpapampa Village (2,770 m).
Along the way, you’ll see a variety of flora and fauna and experience a rapid change
from high alpine to cloud forest.
- Campsite altitude: 2,770 m / 9,087 ft
- Highest altitude: 4,630 m / 15,190 ft
- Distance: 18 km / 11.1 mi
- Duration: ~9 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, tea, dinner
- Accommodation: Camping next to a village
- Considered: Challenging
Day 5 | Collpapampa – Lucmabamba – Llaqtapata (16 km, ~8 h)
After breakfast around 07:00, begin a 3-hour trek along the Salkantay Valley, following
a white-water river fed by glaciers like Salkantay. Walk through a verdant area full of
waterfalls, orchids, flowers, coffee farms, and small villages until you reach
Lucmabamba.
Enjoy lunch among avocado trees and participate in a special
Pachamanca—a traditional underground barbecue cooked with hot stones.
While the food cooks, visit Wilbert’s organic coffee farm, learn about harvesting and
roasting, and prepare your own espresso.
After the Pachamanca feast, continue for about 3 hours uphill along an
original Inca trail to the Llaqtapata archaeological site, a unique
Inca ruin located directly in front of Machu Picchu. From here, you’ll catch your first
views of the citadel in the distance. Camp at Llaqtapata with your tents overlooking
Machu Picchu.
- Campsite altitude: 2,750 m / 9,022 ft
- Distance: 16 km / 9.9 mi
- Duration: ~8 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: Camping in front of Machu Picchu
- Difficulty: Moderate
Day 6 | Llaqtapata – Hydroelectric – Aguas Calientes (14 km, ~6 h)
Wake up early, open your tent, and see Machu Picchu across the valley. If the weather
allows, enjoy a beautiful sunrise over the citadel. After breakfast, begin a
2-hour downhill hike to the Hydroelectric station,
where you’ll receive a box lunch and say goodbye to your trekking team.
Continue to the Intiwatana (sundial rock), visited by Hiram Bingham in
1911 and aligned with the main sundial at Machu Picchu. Then walk about
3 hours along the railway to Aguas Calientes,
passing through the Mandor Garden area where Bingham met the farmer Arteaga—who led
him to Machu Picchu.
This section is rich in flora and fauna; you may see the cock-of-the-rock, parrots,
toucans, hummingbirds, and orchids. In Aguas Calientes, check into your 3-star hotel,
enjoy a hot shower, and have dinner at a local restaurant.
- Town altitude: 2,000 m / 6,561 ft
- Distance: 14 km / 8.6 mi
- Duration: ~6 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Aguas Calientes
- Difficulty: Moderate
Day 7 | Machu Picchu (Lost City of the Incas) – Cusco
On the most important day, wake up early, have breakfast at your hotel, and catch one
of the first buses up to Machu Picchu. Your heavy bags will be stored
at the hotel so you can visit the citadel light.
At the checkpoint, show your original passport and entrance ticket. Once inside, you
can take an optional short hike to the Sun Gate or
Inca Bridge, then explore the most important plazas, temples, and
palaces with your guide during a 3–4-hour tour. Afterward, you’ll
have time to explore on your own or climb Huayna Picchu or
Machu Picchu Mountain (optional, must be booked in advance).
When you’re finished, take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, have lunch (not
included), and board the Vistadome panoramic train to Ollantaytambo.
From there, a private van will take you back to Cusco and drop you at your hotel around
19:30.
- Tour duration: 3–4 hours inside Machu Picchu
- Meals: Breakfast (hotel); others not included
- Difficulty: Easy (optional extra hikes are more demanding)
Day 8 | Depart Cusco
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Cusco airport or bus terminal according to
your schedule. End of services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is the Salkantay Trek in this package?
The Salkantay section is considered moderate to challenging. Expect
high altitude (up to 4,630 m / 15,190 ft), long days (up to 9 hours of hiking), and
variable weather. The city and Sacred Valley days are light and help you acclimatize
before the trek.
When is the best time to do this tour?
The Salkantay Trek runs best from the dry season (April–November),
with April and November as good shoulder months. This package is offered from March to
December. January–February can be very rainy with landslide risk; we generally avoid
Salkantay then and recommend alternatives like Lares.
What is the highest point on the trek?
The highest point is the Salkantay Pass at 4,630 m / 15,190 ft on Day
4 of the itinerary. Campsites range from 4,000 m (Salkantaypampa) down to 2,000 m in
Aguas Calientes.
Do I need to acclimatize before trekking?
Yes, and this itinerary builds acclimatization into your trip. The first two days in
Cusco and the Sacred Valley allow your body to adapt before you start hiking at higher
altitudes. We still recommend arriving in Cusco at least one day before Day 1 if
possible.
Can I add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain?
Yes. You can add Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain
for an extra fee (USD $75 per person each). These hikes require separate, limited
permits that must be reserved far in advance, so let us know when booking.
Are meals in Cusco included?
Most meals in Cusco (Days 1–2 and some on Day 7) are not included,
except for the Sacred Valley buffet lunch and any specifically mentioned meals. During
the trek, almost all meals are included.
What Covid-19 measures are in place?
We follow local regulations and health protocols: mandatory temperature checks where
required, use of masks in public areas, hand sanitizer available at all times, regular
sanitizing of vehicles and equipment, reduced group sizes, and 100% online payments
with flexible booking policies.
